The aggravated isolation of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and prisoners Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş in İmralı F Type High Security Closed Prison continues. After 43 months of isolation, Abdullah Öcalan held a family meeting with his nephew Ömer Öcalan on 23 October. In the meeting, Abdullah Öcalan emphasised that the isolation continues.

 

After the meeting, it was revealed that Abdullah Öcalan was given a new 6-month ban on lawyer visits. The appeal against the ban was rejected by Bursa Heavy Penal Court. Lawyers will apply to the Constitutional Court (AYM) against the ban decision.

 

 

One of the lawyers of Asrın Law Office İbrahim Bilmez made evaluations on the new 6-month ban on lawyer visits given on 8 November and the recent discussions.

 

'IT IS A PART OF ISOLATION'

 

Stating that the ban on lawyer visits to PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan is a part of the isolation in İmralı, Lawyer İbrahim Bilmez stated that these bans have become routine with some regulations made after July 2016. 

 

Bilmez said: "From 2011 until the coup attempt on 15 July 2016, Mr. Öcalan's lawyers were not allowed to go to İmralı and lawyer meetings were de facto prevented. After the coup attempt, Bursa Execution Judgeship issued a decision banning all kinds of communication about İmralı without any infrastructure. Afterwards, the legal infrastructure for this was prepared with the State of Emergency. Regulations were made to pave the way for banning lawyers. A few years later, the regulations introduced by the Decree Law were legalised. However, all this does not show that this ban on lawyer meetings is legal or legitimate. Nowhere in the world is there a case where disciplinary penalties or bans on lawyer visits have been imposed so consecutively."

 

Bilmez said that the 6-month ban on lawyer visits imposed on 8 November is also a part of the isolation, and pointed out that the great resonance of the decision in the public opinion is directly related to the recent discussions on the Kurdish issue. "This is not new for us, but we are now in a period of time that is not a process in public opinion, but is called a process. These news naturally attract more attention due to the discussions that started after MHP Chair Devlet Bahçeli shook hands with DEM Party executives," he said. 

 

'RIGHT PLACES SHOULD BE LISTENED TO'

 

Bilmez emphasized that with the decision to ban lawyer visitation, the claims of “lawyer visitation”, which have been recently served by the ruling media and some opposition media outlets, have also been debunked and said: “What the spokespersons of the current ruling components and members of the media close to them say does not coincide with the practice we are experiencing today and there is a picture on the contrary. Because the isolation continues. Mr. Öcalan had already said 'the isolation continues' in his meeting with Ömer Öcalan. This is a fact and everyone should know and see this. In times like these, there is a lot of manipulative news and allegations are put forward. The public needs to be vigilant against all this and should keep their ears to the places where the news will actually come from and where accurate information will be provided. Unfortunately, even in the so-called opposition media, professional principles are now being ignored. They publish such speculative news without citing a concrete source. This is not an issue that only a journalist can act with his/her career in mind. It is an issue that concerns the future of the Kurdish and Turkish people. Therefore, journalists who want the good of the people of Turkey should be more sensitive.” 

 

'THEY NEED TO BE SINCERE'

 

Bilmez underlined that the banning decisions against Abdullah Öcalan deepened the Kurdish issue even more in the context of political discussions. “Unfortunately, the Kurdish issue is approached on the axis of security policies and solutions are sought through military methods and the problem is not solved. This has a very heavy bill for all the peoples of Turkey. This is the picture we are experiencing. Turkey's economy is in a terrible state and everyone knows it. Above all, people's freedom is being restricted. There are tens of thousands of dissidents in prison. People cannot express their thoughts and do not feel free. Unfortunately, this is the reality and it is obvious that this picture will not change as long as the isolation continues. Therefore, the state needs to be ready for this and the government and ruling components representing the state need to be sincere about this issue.” 

 

'MUTUAL STEPS NEED TO BE TAKEN'

 

Bilmez emphasized that Abdullah Öcalan is the solution force in the Kurdish issue and that Abdullah Öcalan has repeatedly demonstrated this role with his 25-year stance in İmralı and said: “In fact, it is unthinkable that the officials or people who deal with Mr. Öcalan on behalf of the state are not informed about this issue. Therefore, in such processes, mutual confidence-building steps need to be taken and public opinion needs to be prepared first and foremost.”

 

'IT IS TIME FOR ÖCALAN'S FREEDOM'

 

Pointing out that the conditions for Abdullah Öcalan's physical freedom have been created at the current stage. Necessary steps should be taken said Bilmez and added: “Mr. Öcalan has been held under severe isolation for 25 years on an island prison in İmralı. This is not an ordinary prison. He spent 10 years in a 12 square meter room in solitary confinement. Therefore, 25 years in İmralı is equivalent to 40-45 years in another prison. Mr. Öcalan's age and health condition are also publicly known. He has many health problems and the ECHR's decision on aggravated life imprisonment is obvious. There is also the Vinter Decision and other decisions before this decision. There, too, a reasonable period of time is mentioned and most of the legal experts agree that this reasonable period of time is 25 years. Therefore, it is time for Mr. Öcalan to be free. At a time like this, it is exactly in line with the solution of the Kurdish issue. We think that this should now be strongly put on the agenda.” 

 

CALL TO DEMOCRATIC PUBLIC OPINION

 

Bilmez continued his speech as follows: "Everyone in Turkey who wants peace, a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue and a more equal and humane society should be sensitive and vigilant in this regard. The biggest danger in such processes is that society can unfortunately be manipulated very easily and this situation can create complacency. There is a feeling that 'we can relax now that the issue has been resolved' and unfortunately the consequences of this are severe. It should not be like this. For example, there is a very severe isolation going on right now. A lot of things are said and various allegations are made. But lawyer visits and family visits are forbidden. Can we get news from İmralı? No, we cannot. There is such a reality and it is necessary to act accordingly. In order to eliminate this unlawfulness, the democratic public opinion should show their reactions."

 

MA / İbrahim Irmak